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14 years ago
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
"Starting Small" from Teaching Tolerence
Are you a leader in a homeschool group or a teacher? You can order "Starting Small," which teaches how you can help color a young child's perception of equity, cooperation, and citizenship.
From the description:
This training kit for early childhood educators profiles seven innovative classrooms in which teachers are helping children practice fairness, respect and tolerance.
"Starting Small" includes:
From the description:
This training kit for early childhood educators profiles seven innovative classrooms in which teachers are helping children practice fairness, respect and tolerance.
"Starting Small" includes:
- 58-minute film featuring Vivian Gussin Paley
- Companion text in PDF featuring classroom profiles, reflection prompts and activities
A Day in the Life
Headache, headache, headache, and more headache. It was not a happy day.
We started out with our autumn circle. Nicholas and Daniel had fun using the play silks to dance like autumn leaves in the wind while Katie Grace and Michael got started on their work.
After showing Daniel what was in his three "surprise boxes" (wooden race track and cars, crayons and paper, and wooden bowling set), Nicholas and I settled in and I told him the story of The Magic Fish. He really seemed to love it. I drew a picture as I told it, and showed him the letter F in the body of the fish.
Nicholas got started on his workboxes. One of his projects was beading, and he was excited to find a "magic fish" bead in the box.
The biggest thing I dislike about the workboxes is the plastic containers. We could do baskets, I suppose, if we had the money to buy 12 perfect baskets, but the plastic shoebox containers have lids, which is perfect for keeping tiny Daniel hands out of the day's work. Ah well.
As Nicholas carried on with his work, Katie Grace settled in with her lesson. She's learning about Native Americans. It's a little bit of history and a little bit of geography, but our main focus is on the stories and the arts. We started off learning about the Pomo Native Americans of California. After looking at pictures of the beautiful baskets made by Pomo people, Katie Grace started working on her own basket as I told her the legend of the creation of the moon and sun. She wrapped up her main lesson by writing out the story she had been told.
Katie Grace continued working through her independent work, which included weaving on our loom
and copywork:
Hey-ho for Halloween,
When all the witches may be seen.
Some in black and some in green.
Hey-ho for Halloween!
After a break for snack and to look at some art (Van Gogh's Starry Night), it was time for Michael's main lesson on folktales. After reviewing the stories he read in Cut from the Same Cloth, we talked about hyperbole and made a character web. By now, the headache was miserable, so I sent him off to read.
Everyone chugged along at their work and I closed my eyes and tried to get rid of the headache. When I opened them again a half-hour later, Michael had made lunch for everyone-- what a guy!
After a little tidy and some outside play, we had read aloud-- The Cat Who Went to Heaven-- and then read about the closing of Japan in Story of the World. We only had time for a little map work before it was time to take Katie Grace over to Cochran Elementary for violin. Afterwards, everyone had some hard-earned screen time and I closed my eyes again and tried to beat this headache.
Busy day!
We started out with our autumn circle. Nicholas and Daniel had fun using the play silks to dance like autumn leaves in the wind while Katie Grace and Michael got started on their work.
After showing Daniel what was in his three "surprise boxes" (wooden race track and cars, crayons and paper, and wooden bowling set), Nicholas and I settled in and I told him the story of The Magic Fish. He really seemed to love it. I drew a picture as I told it, and showed him the letter F in the body of the fish.
Nicholas got started on his workboxes. One of his projects was beading, and he was excited to find a "magic fish" bead in the box.
The biggest thing I dislike about the workboxes is the plastic containers. We could do baskets, I suppose, if we had the money to buy 12 perfect baskets, but the plastic shoebox containers have lids, which is perfect for keeping tiny Daniel hands out of the day's work. Ah well.As Nicholas carried on with his work, Katie Grace settled in with her lesson. She's learning about Native Americans. It's a little bit of history and a little bit of geography, but our main focus is on the stories and the arts. We started off learning about the Pomo Native Americans of California. After looking at pictures of the beautiful baskets made by Pomo people, Katie Grace started working on her own basket as I told her the legend of the creation of the moon and sun. She wrapped up her main lesson by writing out the story she had been told.
Katie Grace continued working through her independent work, which included weaving on our loom
and copywork:
Hey-ho for Halloween,When all the witches may be seen.
Some in black and some in green.
Hey-ho for Halloween!
After a break for snack and to look at some art (Van Gogh's Starry Night), it was time for Michael's main lesson on folktales. After reviewing the stories he read in Cut from the Same Cloth, we talked about hyperbole and made a character web. By now, the headache was miserable, so I sent him off to read.
Everyone chugged along at their work and I closed my eyes and tried to get rid of the headache. When I opened them again a half-hour later, Michael had made lunch for everyone-- what a guy!After a little tidy and some outside play, we had read aloud-- The Cat Who Went to Heaven-- and then read about the closing of Japan in Story of the World. We only had time for a little map work before it was time to take Katie Grace over to Cochran Elementary for violin. Afterwards, everyone had some hard-earned screen time and I closed my eyes again and tried to beat this headache.
Busy day!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are has always been a favorite at our house. There's something about Max's wildness that speaks to children and adults alike. We all have an inner "wild thing" waiting to be tamed or entertained, depending on our mood. We all wish we could have a wild rumpus to work out our anger and energy, and oh, if only we could simply eat up those things that make us angry!
Likewise, the promise of home and the forgiveness and grace of a mother also speaks to us. Sendak's book not only captures the tumult and rage of a small child's world, out of control, but also the contented sigh of being welcomed back home with a bowl of soup and slice of cake when our tantrum is over.
I had the honor of teaching a co-op class on story elements the past five weeks. Using classic children's books, we explored the concepts of character, setting, theme, and plot. When we discussed reality vs. fantasy in books, Where the Wild Things Are was a shoo-in.
Like my own children, the six and seven year olds in my class loved this book. They seemed to have a lot of empathy for Max, that little boy in the wolf suit only a few years younger than themselves. They loved the simple text and the pages with no text, where Sendak's illustrations told the story without words. Seeing the book through their eyes, you realized that it was the simplicity with which Sendak tells his tale that makes it so perfect.
When I learned Spike Jonez was directing the movie version of Where the Wild Things Are, I was intrigued. I try to have some alone time with each of my little ones, and I decided that this movie would be a good date for me and my "Wild Thing," Nicholas, who just turned six. We were both excited, and went on opening day.
I wish I had waited. I broke my own rule, and went before the online review came out on pluggedin.com. I really wish I had, as the review suggests, take the PG rating more seriously.
Nicholas seemed to enjoy it. There were times he laughed out loud. He also cried and was very sad at parts, and frightened as well. Much of it seemed to go over his head, and I really don't know that he got all that much out of it. Certainly, he didn't engage with the movie as much as he has engaged with the book.
As for me, I mostly found it boring and contrived. To take Sendak's book, where the genius is in its simplicity, and try to puff up less than 350 words into 2 hours of action and dialogue almost seems like a sacrilege. In my eyes, the movie missed the point completely.
By aging Max up from a four- or five-year-old in the book to a nine-year-old in the movie, the main character looses- in my opinion- his license to behave as he does. A five-year-old can be excused for acting like a "wild thing". They're running on emotion and don't have much of an internal locus of control. To see a nine-year-old acting that way, biting his mother and exhibiting little to no control, shifts the behavior from child-like to downright bratty. I can watch that at home.
Some of the violence in this movie was disturbing as well. While bloodless, there's a constant tension where the viewer isn't sure if Max and the Wild Things are happy or harmed. Max seems unsure as well. And there's one act of violence committed by one Wild Thing against another that I found horrifying, and yet the movie just glanced over it.
All in all, this is not a movie for children. It's a movie for adults about a treasured childhood tail. For me, I'll stick to the book. The movie missed the mark.
Likewise, the promise of home and the forgiveness and grace of a mother also speaks to us. Sendak's book not only captures the tumult and rage of a small child's world, out of control, but also the contented sigh of being welcomed back home with a bowl of soup and slice of cake when our tantrum is over.
I had the honor of teaching a co-op class on story elements the past five weeks. Using classic children's books, we explored the concepts of character, setting, theme, and plot. When we discussed reality vs. fantasy in books, Where the Wild Things Are was a shoo-in.
Like my own children, the six and seven year olds in my class loved this book. They seemed to have a lot of empathy for Max, that little boy in the wolf suit only a few years younger than themselves. They loved the simple text and the pages with no text, where Sendak's illustrations told the story without words. Seeing the book through their eyes, you realized that it was the simplicity with which Sendak tells his tale that makes it so perfect.
When I learned Spike Jonez was directing the movie version of Where the Wild Things Are, I was intrigued. I try to have some alone time with each of my little ones, and I decided that this movie would be a good date for me and my "Wild Thing," Nicholas, who just turned six. We were both excited, and went on opening day.
I wish I had waited. I broke my own rule, and went before the online review came out on pluggedin.com. I really wish I had, as the review suggests, take the PG rating more seriously.
Nicholas seemed to enjoy it. There were times he laughed out loud. He also cried and was very sad at parts, and frightened as well. Much of it seemed to go over his head, and I really don't know that he got all that much out of it. Certainly, he didn't engage with the movie as much as he has engaged with the book.
As for me, I mostly found it boring and contrived. To take Sendak's book, where the genius is in its simplicity, and try to puff up less than 350 words into 2 hours of action and dialogue almost seems like a sacrilege. In my eyes, the movie missed the point completely.
By aging Max up from a four- or five-year-old in the book to a nine-year-old in the movie, the main character looses- in my opinion- his license to behave as he does. A five-year-old can be excused for acting like a "wild thing". They're running on emotion and don't have much of an internal locus of control. To see a nine-year-old acting that way, biting his mother and exhibiting little to no control, shifts the behavior from child-like to downright bratty. I can watch that at home.
Some of the violence in this movie was disturbing as well. While bloodless, there's a constant tension where the viewer isn't sure if Max and the Wild Things are happy or harmed. Max seems unsure as well. And there's one act of violence committed by one Wild Thing against another that I found horrifying, and yet the movie just glanced over it.
All in all, this is not a movie for children. It's a movie for adults about a treasured childhood tail. For me, I'll stick to the book. The movie missed the mark.
Weekend Round-Up
Well, yee haw! We haven't done one of these in a while...
We're trying to get back into some sort of rhythm here, and I've found some great blog entries to help us do just that.
We're back at co-op, and this year it's been extended to a full day session. Over at I Have to Say, I found a great tutorial for making reusable snack bags. These would be great for our lunches!
Speaking of lunch, I can't wait to try Weelicious's Cheesy Pizza Dough Twists. Their mashed potato cake recipe looks pretty yummy too. For breakfast, we might try Econobuster's Baked Apple Pie Oatmeal.
As far as homeschooling goes, we've been enjoying reading Where the Wild Things Are lately. Nicholas and I even went on a date to see the movie! The Crafty Crow has a great round-up of story-related crafts, and I'm sure Nicholas will enjoy seeing some of these great Where the Wild Things Are activities show up in his workboxes this week. I'm betting he'll enjoy the felt jack o' lantern game from Chasing Cheerios as well.
The older children might enjoy this fall pastel landscape from Art Projects for Kids or maybe this watercolor fall tree-- I'm sure I can adapt this to use with a wet-on-wet watercolor painting.
Have a great week!
20 days to being a more mindful mother
As usual, I'm a bit late to the game, LOL!
Carrie over at The Parenting Passageway just completed Day 20 of her series "20 Days to Being a More Mindful Mother." And so, of course, I'm going to start tomorrow with Day 1. Things are a bit off-kilter around here, and so I was thinking today that I needed something to help me get centered again. I remembered this series, and decided that if I publicly make a commitment to follow it, I'll have no choice.
So... away we go!
Carrie over at The Parenting Passageway just completed Day 20 of her series "20 Days to Being a More Mindful Mother." And so, of course, I'm going to start tomorrow with Day 1. Things are a bit off-kilter around here, and so I was thinking today that I needed something to help me get centered again. I remembered this series, and decided that if I publicly make a commitment to follow it, I'll have no choice.
So... away we go!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 15: Pregnancy and Birth Loss Remembrance Day
Today, we remember our little ones who died, either in the womb or close to their birthing days. Of course, as mothers, we remember them every day. But today, we ask a society that sometimes would rather keep pregnancy and birth loss as something whispered about behind closed doors, to remember with us.
Tonight at 7 PM, I lit a candle as part of the "Lights of Love" campaign. I remembered Mary Elizabeth, our first baby who died at 13 weeks over ten years ago. I also remembered my two very recent losses, Samuel Paul and Maria Hope. I remember also my dear friends and their babies-- "real life" friends and the strong compassionate women I've met online. God be with you on this day and give you peace.
Tonight at 7 PM, I lit a candle as part of the "Lights of Love" campaign. I remembered Mary Elizabeth, our first baby who died at 13 weeks over ten years ago. I also remembered my two very recent losses, Samuel Paul and Maria Hope. I remember also my dear friends and their babies-- "real life" friends and the strong compassionate women I've met online. God be with you on this day and give you peace.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
An Autumn Circle
Call to Circle
Are we ready? Are we ready?
Holding hands together? Holding hands together?
Time to light the candle, time to light the candle.
Circle time! Circle time!
Adapted from The Singing Day, sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques"
Candle Lighting
The sun it shines so warm and bright.
It shines on all I do.
Now let me take this bit of light
So I shine brightly too.
Autumn Seasons of Joy
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Autumn has come to the country and town,
Wearing its garment of golden and brown.
Apples she brings us so round and so red,
Brings us our corn that we bake into bread.
Lo, there's a bridge of wonderful light,
Built of colors so warm and so bright.
Brown, gold, and purple and yellow and red,
Softly we tread, softly we tread.
Wynstones Autumn
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Let's go walking through the woods
On this windy Autumn day,
Through the leaves, all red and gold,
Let us dance and sing and play.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,
"Come over the meadow with me and play!
Put on your dresses of red and gold.
Pentatonic Songs
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The summer is gone and the days grow cold."
Who comes creeping in the night
When the moon is clear and bright?
Who paints the leaves red and gold
When the autumn day turns cold?
Up the hill and down he goes,
In and out the brown corn rows
Making music crackling sweet
With his frosty little feet.
Jack Frost!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Three little oak leaves, red, yellow, old
Were happy when the weather turned cold.
One said, "I'll make a coat for an elf
So he will be able to warm himself."
One said, "I'll make a home for a bug
So that she will be all safe and snug."
One said, "I'll cover a see in the ground
'Til spring, it will be very safe and sound."
Three little oak leaves, red, yellow, gold
Were happy when the weather tuned cold.
Rhymes for Learning Time
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I shake the trees
And blow my tune,
Hi, ho, -- the leaves
Will be dancing soon!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This month is October
With leaves falling down.
Flutter hands down.
They make a soft carpet
To cover the ground.
Smooth hands like a carpet.
Soon we will rake them
Into a heap.
Pretend to rake.
Then into the big pile
I will leap!
Jump!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Faith, Hope, and Love
I've been having trouble sleeping lately, and so I've been praying the rosary. When I was little, someone once told me that if you fall asleep praying the rosary, your guardian angel finishes it for you. It seemed like a win-win solution.
Another rosary tradition left over from my childhood is to say before the each of the three Hail Marys at the beginning "For an increase of faith...," "For an increase of hope...," and "For an increase of love."
I get why we need to pray for our faith to be increased, and I understand why we need more love. But to be honest, I've never understood why hope was lumped in with the other two. I've always thought of hope not so much as a necessity, but as a luxury, something that's nice to have because it makes our days more pleasant.
We're losing another baby. We were really shocked when we found out I was pregnant so soon after the miscarriage. We had an early ultrasound, and there was concern because they couldn't see the baby's heartbeat. Then, three days later, there it was--a beautiful little flutter on the ultrasound. And now, two weeks after... nothing. No heartbeat, no growth, no increase in HCG levels. No life.
I have faith and I have love, but hope is a little hard to come by right now.
"Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?" So writes St. Paul in the book of Romans. He then goes on to say "But if we wait for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."God promises in Isaiah that "those who hope in Me will not be disappointed."
Right now, I'm very disappointed. I won't lie. Not in God, but in the state of things. I'm beginning to see how inextricably entwined faith, hope, and love are. I'm finding myself despairing a little. And so, there is nothing left to do but to pray.
For an increase of faith.
For an increase of love.
For an increase of hope.
Another rosary tradition left over from my childhood is to say before the each of the three Hail Marys at the beginning "For an increase of faith...," "For an increase of hope...," and "For an increase of love."
I get why we need to pray for our faith to be increased, and I understand why we need more love. But to be honest, I've never understood why hope was lumped in with the other two. I've always thought of hope not so much as a necessity, but as a luxury, something that's nice to have because it makes our days more pleasant.
We're losing another baby. We were really shocked when we found out I was pregnant so soon after the miscarriage. We had an early ultrasound, and there was concern because they couldn't see the baby's heartbeat. Then, three days later, there it was--a beautiful little flutter on the ultrasound. And now, two weeks after... nothing. No heartbeat, no growth, no increase in HCG levels. No life.
I have faith and I have love, but hope is a little hard to come by right now.
"Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?" So writes St. Paul in the book of Romans. He then goes on to say "But if we wait for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."God promises in Isaiah that "those who hope in Me will not be disappointed."
Right now, I'm very disappointed. I won't lie. Not in God, but in the state of things. I'm beginning to see how inextricably entwined faith, hope, and love are. I'm finding myself despairing a little. And so, there is nothing left to do but to pray.
For an increase of faith.
For an increase of love.
For an increase of hope.
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